Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 16
Netflix Draws 5.3 Million for Home Run Derby, Lowest Since 2003
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 16

Netflix Draws 5.3 Million for Home Run Derby, Lowest Since 2003

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 16

Summary

  • 5.3 million viewers watched Monday's Home Run Derby on Netflix, the event's smallest audience in more than two decades despite Jordan Walker's win over Kyle Schwarber.
  • Recent TV baselines were not far higher—ESPN averaged 5.73 million in 2025 and 5.45 million in 2024—pointing more to streaming limits than a collapse in interest.
  • Netflix's sports presentation drew fresh criticism for feeling like an entertainment promo, with celebrity-heavy coverage including Will Ferrell and complaints that the broadcast tried too hard.
  • Live sports still appear stronger on traditional television, while simulcasts across linear TV and streaming remain the clearest path for leagues trying to grow digital audiences.

Insights

After viewership hit a 20-year low, will MLB rethink its high-stakes gamble on exclusive streaming partners?
Is Netflix's entertainment-first approach to live sports a brilliant new strategy or a colossal miscalculation?
As streaming costs now rival cable, is the cord-cutting revolution for sports fans officially over?